Method of rendering anthracite coal conductive, &amp;c.



No. 053,400. Patented '.Iuly 10,1900. w. .1. BURKE.

METHOD OF RENDEBING ANTHRACITE COAL CONDUOTIVE, 80c.

(Application filed Apr. 27, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. BURKE, OF SGRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO HENRY A. KAUFHOLD, OF SAME PLACE.

METHOD OF RENDERING ANTHRACITE COAL CONDUCTIVE, 86C"- SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 653,468, dated July 10, 1900.

I Application filed April 27, 1900- Serlal No. 14,622- (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. BURKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scranton, Laekawannacounty, Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Method of Rendering Anthracite Coal Conductive and the Article Produced Thereby, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the production of a conductive material for use in electrical and metallurgical apparatuses.

The object of my invention is to so treat anthracite or hard coal in aretort closed to external air as to drive off all impurities in the form of gases until practically-pure commercial carbon is produced, the article so produced being a good conductor of electricity.

The invention will first be described and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

The drawing shows in perspective an electric brush or conductor formed of a single piece of my new conducting material.

In carrying out my improved process I take anthracite or hard coal of any size and place it in a suitable retort. This retort I fill to within a short distance of the top and then place a sheet of paper or other suitable material upon the coal, after which I seal the top with clay, upon which I place a covering of fine coal dust or ashes to prevent air from enterin'g the retort. Heat will now be applied to the exterior of the retort sufiicient to drive off the impurities contained in the coal, and these impurities issue from the sealed top of the retort in the form of gases, which ignite and are consumed. This heating is kept up for several hours, or until the gases from the retort cease to burn. I have produced a good conductor of electricity by this method in about two hours; but a longer time may be taken without injury to the product and according to the use to which the product may be employed. It is best to allow the material thus treated to cool gradually in the retort without exposure to the atmosphere.

The anthracite or hard coal treated by my method, where electric pencils, brushes, eleotrodes, or contacts are to be formed, is in lumps or blocks, and after treatment the pencils or other forms of conductors may be made was firstformed from a lump of anthracite .coal and then subjected to my above-described process or method of treatment. The carbon thus produced may also be finely ground andemployed as a facing for molds in foundrywork insteadhof the graphite and other expensive facings now employed 'to keep the sand from adhering to the molded articles. My new conducting material may also be employed for heating by electricity.

In my present process I do not add to the coal any oleaginous material and also dispense with several steps and cheapen the product claimed in my allowed application, Serial No. 740,573, filed December 16, 1899.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described method of rendering anthracite or hard coal electrically conductive, or of transforming it into a conductor, which consists in heating the same in its natural condition of solidity, in a retort closed to external influences until the impurities are driven off.

2. The herein-described method of rendering anthracite or hard coal electrically conductive, or of transforming it into a conductor, which consists in placing the same in a retort, then covering the coal with a layer of suitable fabric, then applying a layer of clay and finally a layer of coal dust or ashes, then heating the retort to drive out the objectionable elements in the form of gases and to convert the coal to commercially-pure carbon, and continuing the heat till'the escaping gases cease to born.

3. As a new article of manufacture, con

seems ducting-carbon formed from anthracite or In testimony whereof I afiix my signature hard coal by freeing it from its volatile 11011- in presence of two witnesses. conducting elements or constituents.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a car- WILLIAM BURKE 5 bon formed from a piece of anthracite coal Witnesses:

freed from its volatile non-conducting ele- GRACE P. BRERETON, ments or constituents and cut to shape. GEO. H. EVANS. 

